Supernatural, Season 2
(The WB, 2006-2007)
A direct continuation of Season 1, and ultimately bringing closure to its primary arc (while salting and burning a few of its own). The individual stories are strong. Newly introduced recurring characters offer relief from Sam and Dean’s much-hammered yet unchanging dynamic.
Supernatural, Season 1
(The WB, 2005-2006)
Supernatural leans into its urban legends horror element, which is convincingly enacted, and serves up charm and humour on the side courtesy of brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean’s (Jensen Ackles, more or less reprising his Dark Angel character) bickering sibling camaraderie.
Alcatraz, Season 1
(Fox, 2012)
Somewhat predictable (with stock characters; even the mysterious reveals were formulaic) but it would have been interesting to see if Alcatraz had a destination in mind for its well-acted then-and-now procession of fugitive, time-displaced inmates. Another cancelled programme carrying echoes of Brimstone.
Stranger Things, Season 1
created by The Duffer Brothers (Netflix, 2016)
After a grim, sluggish start — and a prolonged burst of overacting by Winona Ryder — the 1980s styled supernatural sci-fi horror series Stranger Things hits its stride, respecting the attention span and showing that television really can be as captivating as we remember.
Valley of Lights
by Stephen Gallagher (New English Library, 1987)
Valley of Lights is a compellingly dark supernatural crime novel (often marketed as horror). Gallagher’s first person narrative draws us into a lone sergeant’s pursuit of the archetypical serial killer: a creature who can jump between human bodies, wearing them like suits.
Warehouse 13, Season 4
(Syfy, 2012-2013)
Although coming down from the highs of season three — there is less cohesion and the split-story plotlines are more intrusive — much of the quirky, light-hearted charm is retained as warehouse agents try to collect and contain a plethora of historically-imbued supernatural artefacts.
Flatliners
dir. Joel Schumacher (1990)
Twenty-five years on, Flatliners’ ensemble all-star cast looks to have injected water from the fountain of youth. This shadowy supernatural film hasn’t aged either, suspense levels and consequences spiking as five medical students kill then revive themselves in search of the afterlife.
Memory Lane
dir. Shawn Holmes (2014)
Independent filmmaker Shawn Holmes debuts with an adroitly scripted, well-acted, gloomy piece of supernatural intrigue. Memory Lane feels short at sixty-eight minutes, but given even a brass razoo for a budget, Holmes could well bring us the next Memento or Donnie Darko.